Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-06-03
THE BRIDE or ARNE SAND
,STROM

OIHOH.
"Bg Swede wedding over there this even
ing, " said one American to another by his
side. "Peter Lunds daughter"
as she marrying a Swede p inquired the
second American.
Eyes fellow by the name Of Arne Sand
strom."
81 should think old Peter, well off as he
is, would have stood up for an American
son-in- law-you or me, for instance" Oh
served the second youth, with laugh.
"The girls pretty as a pink, and has had
every advantage 1t is a pity to see her
thrown away but old Peter has a lot of
younger ones coming on"
"That makes it less an object. / thought
she was his only. The Swedes are clannish
amt they p
"Poor Lund's is headquarters for them
too. Here's one now, hunting up the we'd
ding. I'll bet she's just arrived from the
old country"
So near the truth was this surlnise that
Elsa had been off the train only twenty
minutes, and in that time had repeated the
name of Arne Sandstrom interrogatively
to every person she met. She was dazed
by long riding and partial fasting, and the
dumb terror of finding no one to receive
her at the end of her great journey. The
letter created with much brain work to
announce her coming ought to have been in
his hands weeks ago. The innocent and
friendless soul did not know she had omit
ted all dates in her general care for
spelling and inky loops So stepping off
| the train into the American small town at
dusk, she saw stretches of summer prairie
/ to the westward, perky architecture, cross
/ ing railroad tracks, hurrying citizens, and
| lazy loungers-even the new electric light
| on It's spider-work iron tower beginning to
make a CHASTITY powerful star far above her
head She saw baggage and piles of ex-
press matter, hotel runners, and other
women starting toward their assured homes
tucked laughing and chatting under their
| husbands arms but she saw not one face
or one kind hand ready to bid her welcome,
who had ventured thousands of miles alone
across ocean, across cOntinent-to marry
| her betrothed lover, Arne Sandstrom.
Hearing his name spoken, she stood still
upon the sidewalk shrinking and timid,
but directly in front of the young men,
and inquired, using hands and eyes as well
as anxious infection of voice, "Arne Sand
strom :"
she wants to know where he is, ex-
planned one American to the other. Right
over there that big house, he returned,
talking also with gestures, where you see
it lighted up. She doesn't understand.
Arne Sandstrom over there. Getting mar
ried Yes, yes Arne Sandstrom. Here,
Billy, you trot out a little Swede gibberish,
can't you You've been among them more
than have"
"Arne Sandstrom derorer, exclaimed the
other, pointing to Peter Lund's house, with
fine assumption of handling the language
well. 'Arne Sandstrom jgtd tonight you
know"
''Yifta - said Elsa, shrinking down in
stature.
she's got hold of it. That's all right.
You'll be i'll time for the wedding"
she didn't understand she thought we
were making fun of her. said one of the
lads as they sauntered on.
She did understand, and there she goes
straight across the street. Brush up in the
languages, young man, and make your
self as useful to the public as | am
When Elsa had entered the Lund prem
ises however, she did not ring the bell, but
wavered around the house, looking up al
lighted windows and shifting her little
bundle from one arm to the other. She
had other baggage at the station, but il
seemed no longer worth while There was
a western vernnda ON the lowest step OF
which she sat down in quiet stupor to col
lect herself for some determined move
ment
Anguish and disappointment must be the
natural lot in this world, only she had mo-
lived enough years to find it out before
Though summer darkness had come, the
after-g glow was still so bright in the ives
that it half quarrelled with abundant lamp
light. Elsa could hear the front gate, thu
crunch of coming footsteps, and frequen
peals of the door-bell as she sat drawn to
gether, and the eternal minutes Travelled
J on.
Peter Lunds house was full of Joyful
, stir. China and silver tinkled in the opeI
dining room where several women wer
putting last touches to the tables Girl
Z flew up and down the back stairway, call
5 ing to one another in Swedish.
t Zone thing is sure, Yennie Yonsen,
. called "a voice in the home tongue, 'ther
: will not be enough married women to tax,
the bride from us girls in the wedding
; dance so now what will Arne Sandstron
I do 4"
p Three of them conspired together by tn
5 western dining room door, bobbing thei
faxen heads, all laughing and talking a
once in their light happiness, far above tn
' unseen stranger on the step.
e "Who told me Arne Sandstrom left be
q trothed girl in Svadia = said one, lowering
her voice to grave colloquy.
ooh, WELL she married herself, of course,
replied another; "and any man who coul
4, get Lena Lund would take her"
/. "Lena's so pretty"
Q 'Lena's rich
LENA can sing and play better tina
: some Amerikanns."
LENA has ten new dresses. Arne vii
r not have to put his hand in his pocket 70
0 many day"
r she is not spoiled Herewith. l Away
I liked her
! "Ah, my mother said if this weddin
was going to be in Svadia this st. John
Eve, what night we would make of it !"
, They ran away while Elsa repeated t
: herself that this was the Eve of st. job
. night of arbors and rejoicing at HON,
8 night when the sun scarcely went dowI
and everybody Toasted and visited unde
green-leaf tents. OF what use was s.
j. Johns Eve, or any other portion of time
e to a girl put to shame and despair as sh
&c was Why had Arne Sandstrom sent he
money TO come over with if he meant
jilt her on her arrival Or had he pickle
II another betrothed for her as well as hin
a self She would not believe her Arm
is could be so evil she would knock and as
II for him. He was so kind he loved hel
Yet not only the Amerikanns, but thos
- laughing girls had said plainly this WI
/ ATne Sandstrom's wedding any ma
d would take Lena Lund who could get her
d Lena was so pretty Lena was rich; Len
> could sing and play better than some Anne
! ikanns Lena had ten new dresses, an
~ she was not spoiled.
- Elsa bruised her cheek against the edg
=, of the second step above her. She did ne
IL know where to go, and her money was a
r spent except the little she had saved by g
d ing without food during part of her raj
q way journey, and she had saved that
. buy some little ornament for her new hon
>, with Arne. She might try to hire herse
70 out, but how could she ever write back hon
/ where such happy news was expected fro
rs her, or how could she put uncomfortable am
1t iety upon these best friends by not writin
ID at all Svadia was so pleasant, especial
in the long nightless summers. Good an
kind they were TO strangers there h'
mother always baked waffies and carrie
them with coffee TO the morning bedside
a guest She could see her native meat